Wherever they are in the world, there’s no peace for wolves. These elegant, elusive predators are too often and mistakenly considered a scapegoat and are sacrificed in the name of a quiet life for farmers.

Norway against wolves

Norway’s government will allow hunters (which applied for licenses) to kill 47 wolves. This is bad news for environmentalists and scientists since a new study shows that non-violent wolf management is way more effective than hunting. The situation gets even worse if we consider that Norway’s wolf population amounts to only 68 individuals. Norway boasts environmental and progressive policies, but it decided to shoot to over two-thirds of its wolves, condemning the future of these predators.

More sheep, less wolves

The planned cull, which is the biggest in more than a century, has been driven by the protests of farmers who suffered losses in their sheep flocks due to wolves. According to environmentalists, however, the losses had been minimal and the government’s plan is disproportionate to the actual threat. “This is mass slaughter,” said Nina Jensen, chief executive of WWF Norway. “Shooting 70 per cent of the wolf population is not worthy of a nation claiming to be championing environmental causes”.

Hunters’ determining presence

Hunting is a very popular “sport” in Norway. In 2015, 11,000 hunters applied for licenses to kill 16 wolves. The country has justified its plan as a disincentive for poachers, but it has been proven that legal hunting does not reduce poaching. Besides, the situation gets even more absurd if we consider that 24 out of the 47 wolves to be killed live in a natural reserve designated to them.

We must learn to coexist with other creatures

Most western countries have lost their knowledge of natural dynamics. In fact, the only solution to manage “problematic” animals at the moment seems to be their cull. But this is not true. Eliminating completely the conflict between farmers and wolves isn’t possible, and it’s idealistic. Farmers should adopt more effective countermeasures, such as fencing and shepherd dogs. Most importantly, people must recover that ancient culture in which nature used to play a fundamental role and return to coexist with other animal species.

Tradotto da Camilla Soldati